I'm playing a dwarf inquisitor of Asmodeus in Rise of the Runelords, and aim to fill a tanky mage-slayer demon-hunter kind of role. Inquisitors are very good for this, and it's worked out quite well so far. We're currently level 13, and I'm looking for some advice in where to go from here. Deciding which feat to take at level 15, for example, is hard.
I generally aim for versatility in my builds, and am loath to min/max. Since I'm now filling the role of a tank, versatility means survivability especially. I enjoy being able to defend against almost any conceivable situation. This is my build so far:
AC 31, touch 15, flat-footed 28 (+10 armor, +2 deflection, +2 Dex, +1 dodge, +1 natural, +5 shield)
Fort +17, Ref +8, Will +15; +2 vs poisons, +4 vs spells and spell-like, +1 vs mind-affecting
Base Atk +10, CMB +15; CMD 30
Melee +1 defending dispelling cold iron dwarven waraxe +16/+11 (1d10+6/x3)
Ranged +1 repeating heavy crossbow +13/+8 (1d10+1/19-20)
Specials bane (+2/4d6, 16 rounds/day), inner strength 5d6, judgment 4/day (+4 dmg, 4 fast heal, +3/+6 atk, +4 vs SR, +3/+6 AC, +3/+6 saves, 8 energy resist, magic/law/adamantine smiting), relentless footing (7/day), stalwart, swap teamwork feat 4/day (Coordinated Charge)
Inquisitor Spells Known (CL 13; concentration +17)
1st (6/day)--burst bonds, divine favour, lend judgment, litany of sloth, litany of weakness, remove fear (page of spell knowledge), shield of faith
2nd (5/day)--blistering invective, flames of the faithful, invisibility, see invisibility, silence
3rd (5/day)--burst of speed, dispel magic, greater magic weapon, protection from energy
4th (3/day)--greater invisibility, judgment light, stoneskin
Domain/Inquisition Persistance Inquisition
Str 20 [16], Dex 14, Con 19 [17], Int 10, Wis 18 [16], Cha 10 [8]
Feats Blind-Fight, Combat Reflexes, Coordinated Charge (free tw), Craft Magic Arms & Armor, Diehard (free), Dodge, Endurance (free), Following Step, Mobility, Outflank (free tw), Shake It Off (free tw), Steel Soul, Step Up (free), Step Up and Strike
Traits Indomitable Faith, Magical Knack, Unintentional Linguist, Power-Hungry (drawback)
Combat Gear +4 buckler, +1 glamered fortification (moderate) mithral full-plate, +1 defending dispelling cold iron dwarven waraxe, +1 repeating heavy crossbow
Gear Baldric Bane, Cloak of Flash & Shadow (+2 Cha), Infernal Cord (+2 Con), Gauntlets of Takkok (+4 Str), Headband of Inspired Wisdom +2, Ring of Protection +2, Ring of the Ram, Lesser Extend Metamagic Rod, Straps of the Serpent (+1 Natural Armor, +3 res bonus to saves), Winged Boots
For my level 15 feat, I've considered Expanded Arcana, Forge Ring, Instant Judgment, Iron Will -> Devilish Pride, Spring Attack, Spell Focus (illusion) -> Veiled Illusionist, Destructive Dispel, Quicken Spell, Improved Critical, Divine Interference. In other words, I'm still looking for the one that screams "pick me!" Advice?
I'm also looking for some input on spells known. At our last level up I swapped out Wrath for Litany of Weakness, after realising Wrath is much weaker than it looks. What are some good utility spells that I may not have thought of? Many of the spells chosen so far are chosen largely due to fitting the character concept. In the future I'm looking at Righteous Might, Quest, Dimensional Anchor, Death Knell Aura, Bestow Insight, Divine Pursuit, Coordinated Effort, Magic Vestment, Spell Immunity, Cure Critical Wounds.
When it comes to magical items, the most important investment is probably fortification on my full-plate, which recently saved me from two simultaneous crits from scythe and katana due to battlemind link. Dispelling is useful enough that I'm considering increasing it to dispelling burst, but keen is also tempting.
Most body slots are occupied except for wrists and neck, and the rings I wear are not too important. Knowledge Pendant looks neat.
Obviously I've got enough ideas already to make it work out, but any suggestions and input will be deeply appreciated anyway. I'm kind of looking for the "must have" choices on several fronts.
The rest of the party consists of a damage-dealing flank-hungry intimidation fighter/rogue, dimensional dervish monk, illusion-focused transmuter wizard, and a druid who may reroll to cleric.
What he said.
For spells, maybe something to enhance mobility? Spell Immunity will be useful, too.
Divine interference or Toughness.
If you have a group member able to load spellstoring weapon with vampric touch that is going to help you stay on your feet.
UMD skill + Wand of false life, mirror image, scrolls of stoneskin, barkskin/ironskin. Layered defenses are best.
Freedom of movement is useful especially if your goal is to be able to defend against any situation.
Something worth considering may be that given you have invisibility for situations where you need to hide, greater invisibility (4th level) offers you nothing that shield of darkness (3rd level) doesn't.
I don't know how often you use the crossbow, but if it's at all common then you might look at named bullet.
For spells, maybe something to enhance mobility? Spell Immunity will be useful, too.
Burst of Speed is a very neat spell both for offense and retreat. I suppose I should consider Freedom of Movement, too.
Divine interference or Toughness.
If you have a group member able to load spellstoring weapon with vampric touch that is going to help you stay on your feet.
UMD skill + Wand of false life, mirror image, scrolls of stoneskin, barkskin/ironskin. Layered defenses are best.
I had not thought of using Vampiric Touch that way. We can definitely cast it, but would it actually work? I mean, wouldn't my weapon gain the healing (if that were possible) instead of my character?
I unfortunately don't think UMD is for this character. At least not at this point. His CHA is only 10 and UMD is not a class skill, so upping it to useful levels would take a lot of skill ranks.
Something worth considering may be that given you have invisibility for situations where you need to hide, greater invisibility (4th level) offers you nothing that shield of darkness (3rd level) doesn't.
Shield of Darkness only requires darkvision and it'll be rendered useless. Does not seem very comparable to Greater Invisibility, although I have to admit Greater Invisibility was not my most inspired choice. I may swap it later.
I'm starting to think a Ring of Freedom of Movement should go on my wishlist.
Shield of Darkness requires the see in darkness ability to render it useless, not mere darkvision. Darkvision doesn't work in supernatural/magical darkness and see in darkness is actually rarer than see invisibility.
Though thinking about it Shield of Darkness does tell the enemy where you are (which square on the battle map) which Greater Invis doesn't.
Interesting. I'd never heard about Shield of Darkness, but I guess it's a kind of Displacement for divine casters. "Magical darkness" presumably means supernatural darkness, like you say, but I'll have to see if our DM agrees.